Argonaut (SS 166)

While operating in the area southeast of New Britain between 5°-15'S and 6°-00'S and
west of 150°-50'E during her third patrol, Argonaut
(Lt. Cdr. J.R. Pierce) intercepted a Japanese convoy returning to Rabaul from
Lae, on 10 January 1943. A U.S. Army plane
which was out of bombs saw one destroyer hit by a torpedo, saw the explosion of
two other destroyers, and reported five other vessels in the group.

After a severe depth charge attack Argonaut
was forced to surface and the destroyers, according to the plane's report,
circled and pumped shells into her bow, which was sticking up at a considerable
angle. This action took place in 5°-40'S, 152°-02'E, and further efforts to
contact Argonaut by radio were fruitless.
It is quite certain, then, that Argonaut
met her end in this action. Japanese reports made available since the end of
the war record a depth charge attack followed by artillery fire, at which time
the "destroyed top of the sub floated".

Argonaut's first patrol near
Midway had resulted in no damage to enemy ships, but her second was a most
successful one. It was conducted following a complete modernization at Mare Island.
Her mission had been to cooperate with Nautilus in
transporting 252 Marine officers and men to Makin Island for a diversionary raid
against enemy shore installations. In the early morning of 17 August 1942,
the raiders were debarked in boats. After nearly two days ashore, the Marines
returned, and the submarines transported them back to Pearl Harbor, Argonaut
arriving on 26 August.

On the basis of the report given by the Army flier who witnessed the attack in
which Argonaut perished, this ship
was credited with having damaged one Japanese destroyer on her last patrol.